Market Day 1955, Dorchester
Market Day 1955, Dorchester Ref: D44055
Memories of Market Day 1955, Dorchester
'When we Were Young'
‘I remember when’ - yes, I remember market day in Dorchester very well – when your picture was taken I was 10 years old, and could well have been one of the children in your picture. On Wednesdays, during school holidays Mum took my brother and I to Dorchester on the bus and we would go'‘into town’ first to do the weekly shop.
This photograph shows South Street (facing south) where they also (and still do) had stalls selling vegetables everyday - Dorchester Market itself is still held in Weymouth Avenue, which is approximately half a mile from South Street.
I think the stall holder was called Neville (Trevitt?), the lady could well be his wife. I also recognise the gentleman on the right with the cap, I think he was someone 'important in Dorchester' in those days, but his name escapes me, he must be now long gone, 54 years later!
On leaving school at 15, I work in 'Boots the Chemist' which is the... Read more
Dorchester & local memories
Read and share memories of Dorchester and Dorset inspired by Frith photos.
Parallel Parking in South Street in The 1960s
I had recently passed my driving test and drove a Morris Minor Saloon, to practice my parallel parking I used to drive down South Street after work or on a Sunday and park outside of Woolworths or Marks and Spencers and try various manoeuvres with the aid of the reflection of the car in the plate glass windows.
A Family Business
To anyone local to Dorchester this was a familiar scene day in and day out for almost 50 years. My grandfather Ben Courtney started selling 'fruit and veg' in 1947 from hand-carts on the roadside. His son Doug started in 1950 and various members of the family helped out through the week.
This picture shows my Aunt Isabel serving a regular customer with his two sons. Her father Ben is behind in his hat, serving, and her brother Doug is extreme left, carrying a box. My father (Doug Courtney) tells me his wife Joan was not at work at this time because she was expecting me to be born, in the June of that year!
Doug took over in 1960 and Trevetts worked alongside from the mid 1960s. Doug, Joan, Win, Isabel and Glad were the familiar faces that served. I did my fair share, working on busy Saturdays to ease the load. Everything was seasonal, and spring into summer brought a surge of fruit and... Read more
Wollaston House
Wasn't this building once called Wollaston House wherein were educated the first two years of Hardye's boys? I was there in 1953 - 54 when Mr Hale was head of the lower school. My first form mistress was the Duchess.
The Milk Bar in South Street
We used to go in there often, and I remember one time being very confused when asked whether I wanted lemonade, cherryade, limeade or Whipsnade, 'cause I knew that was a zoo and I didn't quite get the idea of puns. Another time, being sent to the greengrocer virtually opposite there for a pound of grapes, I was asked whether I wanted red or white and I replied that I'd like the green ones! The age of innocence?
Judge Jeffery's Restaurant
I recall being taken to JJ's on many an occasion over the years during the 1960s /70s by my parents and great aunt Chris, went back in late 1980s or early 1990s with my mum, son and step-daughter and the waitress that worked there when I was a kid was still working there, which was amazing. As kids, Frances and I used only to manage starters and puddings.
South Street
I was 10 years old when this photo was taken, and I always remember South Street being busy. There was a market stall just up a bit from Kay's almost in front of the Antelope Hotel. My mates and i always used to hang out in the "Milk Bar" cafe a bit further down the street. There used to be a lot of good "hang outs" then, the Wimpy Bar, the park. The cars used to come all the way down the street then.
Thomas Hardy
I don't have a specific memory of anything except that my ancestor is Thomas Hardy, author and poet. I am in awe of his writing abilities and his life. I hope to find many things here about him. My search will continue and hopefully I will get a dream visit to England and see his cottage.
My Gt Grandparents Lived at Hangmans Cottage
My great-grandparents lived at Hangmans Cottage sometime during the late 1800s or early 1900s. My dad Robert Mitchell was born at Friary Cottage in 1904 which is a short walk from Hangmans Cottage. He used to tell me about his time spent with his grandparents at Hangmans Cottage when he was a boy. Sadly I am not sure as to whether it was his paternal grandparents which would have been called Mitchell or his maternal grandparents which would have been White-Matthews that lived there. I would really like to know, but sadly there is no-one left to tell me. I have visited both cottages on several occasions with my late father and have since taken my children & grandchildren to see both places. We now have several pictures of different generations standing outside Hangmans Cottage.
Milk Bar
I used the milk bar regularly in 1964.
The woman who owned it was named Adams.
She had a daughter named Carol , anyone any idea what happened to her ?
